This is especially so when the likely revenue return will be more than swallowed up by administration and collection costs.

Wagga is already an expensive destination for private aircraft.

Flyers planning trips by-pass Wagga for airports that don’t charge anything – like Temora, Tumut, Cootamundra and most country airports.

Flyers only come to Wagga if they really have to.

If the parking charge is introduced, even fewer light aircraft will visit.

The real losers then will be local business – taxis, hire cars, motels/hotels, restaurants and retail.

Less fuel will be purchased at the airport leading to increased rates and possibly the loss of competition.

Similarly, council’s restrictions on the option to pay an annual landing fee versus payment for individual landings available to some but not all locals, is also dumb policy.

The option should be open to all private light aircraft regardless of base.

Both of the measures suggested above are incentives for more visitors to Wagga.

They will likely mean more airport revenue for council than less which council’s plan involves.

Our council should be incentivising visitation not putting in measures which drive visitors away.   

I can’t help but notice the new trees planted in the new car park at the hospital. They appear to be blue gums and other types of native trees.

Does the person who planted these trees in a tiny space know how big they grow? If they are what I think they are, they grow massive and will lift up the footpath and car park.

Also, they won’t put down a tap root because they are getting watered. If you stood there and watched, you could just about see them growing.

Please tell me if I am wrong.

I also noticed in the new car park this week men removing the barriers that stop the wheels of the cars going any further.

They were shifting them back so the front of the cars didn’t overlap the footpath.

Is the person who had the barriers put in the wrong place, the same person who chose the trees? Would be interesting to know,

The plans to improve and modernise the Tallangatta Caravan park and get it up to Big 4 level are a step in the right direction.

Caravan tourism is a growth industry and many council controlled parks in our region need to become tourist parks and capture year-round travellers and tourists.

Tourism planners within many regional NSW councils have missed the potential in this part of tourism so suited to our region.

Councils and the NSW government need to review how they negotiate with many caravan operators and allow the operators to have leases that allow them to invest and develop many parks that have stayed stuck in the ‘70s. 

Many parks can be made attractions for regional towns if investment is encouraged in them.